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Thursday, June 6, 2013

1617 White Street - Casa Marina Estate - Key West

1617 White Street - Key West, Florida

If you are a buyer who wants to purchase an estate type property in Key West, 1617 White Street please take a few minutes to view today's blog, the attached photos, and the mls datasheet and then you will surely appreciate the newly reduced asking price of $3,750,000. This designer home with its incredible park like grounds are located one block from Higg's
Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

The listing Realtor at Preferred Properties describes this property thus:

"This
splendid tropical estate rests on 25013 square feet of land and extends
from White Street right through to Sirugo Avenue. The completely
renovated elevated residence has ocean views from the cupola and rooftop
deck and a dramatic vista across the pool and lawn to the spectacular
waterfall. In addition to the luxurious poolside master suite and two
guest bedrooms with en suite baths, there is a charming study in the
tower and a very efficient office overlooking the pool. This home was
featured in the Oct. '01 issue of Architectural Digest. There is a
whole-house generator and a hurricane protection system. For additional
money, an adjoining property of two units having a total of 3 bedrooms,3
baths and a pool may also be purchased."

The
present owner purchased the main house in 1997 and engaged local
architect Tom Pope and brought in designer Thomas Achilles (who had
designed other projects for the owner). The trio collaborated to
transform the original house into something truly unique. The most
prominent feature visible from the street is the widow's walk.
Historically, widow's walks were places where sailors' wives would climb
to look out to the sea to search for the returning ships. Wireless
radio made those roof top perches needless. Since the original house was
only built in 1983, the widows' walk was more a follie than a
necessity when built. Yet it was this novel feature that attracted many
an eye a block away at nearby Higg's Beach or at the city park across
the street. The new owner and his design team expanded the widows' walk
by adding a rooftop sundeck.

Sunset at Higg's Beach

The palms at the front of the
residence now obscure much of the front facade and widows' walk from
public view. But the widows' walk is still the most prominent feature
when viewed from the back side of the property.

The
owner was quoted in the Architectural Digest piece "Key West has Cuban
sensuality and a Caribbean irreverence. At the same time, the island has
a distinctly American individualism and a clear-stated preference for
charm and history that can only be European. We tried to make sure our
home blended all of these elements."

I guess I would describe the
house as British Colonial Revival. The front veranda features an
elaborate front door, decorative crown pediments, and double sets of
windows on either side of the front entry. The interiors are rich in
design and color. The designer used used a color pallet of tans,
caramels, creams, and magenta that were set off by crisp white trim.

The
home has 3259 sq ft of living space under air that includes formal
entry, elegant living area and views to the front and rear, three
bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and the roof top widows' walk with its 360 degree
views of the Island of Key West. The entire property is fenced and
lighted. There is bricked off street parking for several vehicles.

Although
the main entry is Key West casual, you know upon entry this is not s
typical Key West property. The front door opens into the entry which
then expands to the right where the living room is located. That space
is quite large and has multiple sitting areas. The fireplace, one of
three in this home, is the focal point of this area.

The
rear wall of the living room and adjacent formal dining room is
actually multiple sets of French doors that open out onto the covered
veranda that wraps around the rear of the home. Note the bay window
effect of the French doors.

Bay window off the dining room

Fireplace on south end of the veranda

The
master suite (below) has multiple sets of French doors that open out to
the veranda as well. The suite as presently configured includes a
large office area which might easily become a media room, the bedroom
chamber with fireplace, luxurious master bath, and an adjacent morning
kitchen.

View from office

View from the master bedroom

There
are two bedrooms on the second floor each of which has an en-suite
bath. And finally there is the widows' walk and sundeck which offer
amazing views of the south end of the island, the nearby ocean, and the
beautiful park-like garden to the rear. Guests here will truly never
want to go home.

After
completing the renovation and expansion of the main house, the owner
purchased abutting properties to the rear. Existing houses were razed to
expand the rear of the property where a park-like botanical garden was
created complete with massive waterfall plus an nearby bandstand for
large gatherings. The resulting property is an irregular rectangle that
roughly measures 100 feet x 225 feet.
When you enter the home your
eyes are immediately drawn through the house, past the pool and the
garden to the sputtering waterfall literally located a block away. You
don't see sights like that in Key West nor most places. The effect is
quite dramatic.

The
waterfall demands attention. It commands first time visitors to walk
through the garden to the foot of pond where the water collects. While
wandering toward the pool I passed a myriad varieties of fruit and
citrus trees, flowering trees, and palm trees of all kinds. The garden
is amazing.

Ten foot tall waterfall at the rear of the palm grove

Of
course there is a huge swimming pool with its own waterfall, a Jacuzzi,
an outdoor shower, a pool kitchen and pool laundry (for pool towels, of
course). A sunny deck surrounds the pool. An expansive loggia provides
ample entertaining areas for many guests. Hilary Clinton was a guest
of honor at a campaign event held here a few years ago. I heard there
were about five hundred supporters present.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls data sheet on this wonderful Key West property. And CLICK HERE to view the photos I took. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com if you would like to see this home or obtain more information. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Gary Thomas in a Nutshell

I first read about Key West in a magazine called "After Dark" sometime in the mid 1970's. But it wasn't until March 1984 that I made my first visit to the island that would become my home.
I had two weeks for a vacation and reserved a room at Colours Guesthouse (now Marrero's Guest House) for one week. I thought that if I didn't like Key West, I could always go back to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale for the rest of my trip.
But after a couple of days in Key West, that was no longer a consideration. But when I wanted to extend my stay for the extra week I found there was no room at the inn. The guesthouse owner did find me a room at LaTeDa, the infamous guesthouse/restaurant. That's a story I'll write another day. But those two weeks in Key West gave me the realization that I had found Paradise.
Key West has been my home since 1993 and my only regret is that it took me so long to get here.
I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties CRI.
Let me help you find your new home or business in Paradise. Living in Paradise is not a slogan, it's a way of life.